Electric Networks of Armenia waiting for Georgian government`s decision to join energy transfer project

ArmInfo. The "Electric Networks of Armenia" CJSC is waiting for the decision of the Georgian government to join the project for transporting electricity to European countries, Karen Darbinyan, Chairman of the Board of Directors, told ArmInfo.

According to him, the company intends to build a new thermal power plant in the Noyemberyansky district of the republic with an installed capacity of 126 MW and a cost of over $120 million. The project, as Darbinyan noted, will be aimed both at meeting the electricity needs in Armenia and for export to Georgia.  "We are currently awaiting the consent of the Georgian Cabinet of Ministers to participate in the electricity transportation project. In particular, we are talking about laying an electric cable along the bottom of the Black Sea to supply electricity from the South Caucasus region to Romania and further to Hungary. After receiving the go-ahead from An agreement will be concluded between the government and the process of constructing a power plant will begin, which will last two years," the Chairman of the Board of Directors emphasized.

As part of the construction of the power plant, the company undertakes to use the latest technologies that meet international standards, which will contribute to environmental protection.  According to the project, about 150 people will be involved in the construction of the thermal energy facility. The annual supply of electrical energy at the new thermal power plant will be about 1 billion kW/h, which will increase the reliability of energy supply in Armenia, the level of exports and competitiveness in the electricity market.  As part of the project, the Lalvar high-voltage power transmission line in Armenia, as well as about 30 km of high-voltage power transmission line in Georgia, will be reconstructed. All investments will be made by the Russian Tashir Group of Companies with further deduction from the payment for electricity transmission.

Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili, presenting a report on the activities of the country's government for 2023 in the country's parliament, noted that the undersea electric cable project in the Black Sea, initiated by Georgia, is in an active stage. Garibashvili added that the next stage of work on the project will begin in the near future.

A joint statement by Armenia's Premier Nikol Pashinyan and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reads, in particular:

"In the longer run, the European Union and Armenia are determined to reinforce their economic ties, working to bring out the full potential of our Comprehensive  and Enhanced Partnership Agreement.  In particular, the EU Economic Investment Plan (EIP) for Armenia provides up to 2.6 billion euros to be used for investments in important infrastructure and other projects. The Commission and Armenia will redouble efforts to implement important projects. The Commission will also support Armenia's participation in regional projects such as the Black Sea Electricity Cable. Finally, the Commission will step up technical assistance to Armenia, particularly in the areas of air safety and nuclear safety."